Suspended spheroidal car

ABSTRACT

A compound aerial tram chair cover formed with one smaller shell and a second larger shell pivotable about a horizontal axis to extend over the smaller shell in opening. The pivotable mounting of the cover provides shock absorption upon extreme pivotable motion and from an offcenter position biases the movable shell to either closed or open positions. Means are provided to maintain the cover partially open to allow comfortable extension of a user&#39;&#39;s legs. The cover provides a small reactive surface to wind pressure while providing a large contained volume for user comfort, and allows loading during carrier motion.

United States Patent lnventor App]. No. Filed Patented SUSPENDEDSPHEROIDAL CAR 8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

05. Cl /329 S, 104/59, 104/68, 104/89, 104/112, 104/173, /150,]15/322,115/333,105/343, /4 R.

lnt.Cl A47c 7/66, B61b 7/08, 861d 19/00 Field of Search 104/53, 54, 59,68, 77,, 78, 89, 93, 94, 95, 112, 172,173, 202,

172 S; 105/148, 150, 154, 155, 329, 329 R, 329 S,

329 SC, 332, 333, 343; 135/4 R; 272/1 R, 1 B, 1 C, 16,17, 38,40; 297/17,184

Primary Examiner-Arthur L La Point Assistant Examiner- Howard BeltranAttorney-Keith S. Bergman ABSTRACT: A compound aerial tram chair coverformed with one smaller shell and a second larger shell pivotable abouta horizontal axis to extend over the smaller shell in opening. Thepivotable mounting of the cover provides shock absorption upon extremepivotable motion and from an offcenter position biases the movable shellto either closed or open positions. Means are provided to maintain thecover partially open to allow comfortable extension of a user's legs.The cover provides a small reactive surface to wind pressure whileproviding a large contained volume for user comfort, and allows loadingduring carrier motion.

PATENTEUAm; 31911 SHEET 1 UF 2 FIGURE 2 Tony R Sowder,

E R U m F FIGURE 3 PATENTEDAUG 3191: 3,596,612

SHEET 2 OF 2 SUSPENDED SPHEROIDAL CAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONRELATED APPLICATIONS There are no applications related hereto now filedin this or any foreign country.

FIELD OF INVENTION My invention relates generally to relatively movablecompound covers for aerial tram passengercarriers and more particularlyto a spheroidal shell-like cover with one larger element pivotable abouta medial horizontal axis over a slightly smaller element to allow accessthrough the cover.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Passenger trams having chairlike carriers arecommonly operated in mountainous areas during severe weather conditions,particularly in the transport of skiers in the winter. With suchoperation it has become desirable to provide a cover for the .carriersto increase passenger comfort during transport and heretofore variouscovers accomplishing this purpose have become known.

Such a cover to be effective must substantially cover the user.Especially in the case of skiers this requirement presents some physicalproblems as provision must be made for transport of the users skis,preferably without requiring removal of them from normal operativeposition on the skiers boots. Various compound covers having movableportions have become known to open to allow a skier to be seated in achairtype carrier and thereafter close to cover a substantial part ofhis body but yet allow at least the feet to extend from under the coverand be maintained in a position which will allow the;

skis to be worn during transport. The known covers of this type haveprovided some sort of vertically elongate shape with a relatively greatcross-sectional area, oftentimes in a direction parallel to carriermotion. Since the typical tram carrier is suspended from a tractioncable by linkage that allows relatively free motion in any direction,thestructure tends io behave somewhat as a pendulum when wind forces areapplied. and oftentimes such foreces may cause displacement of thecarriers in excess of operative limits. Chair covers having largecross-sectional areas in any plane, or an adverse aerodynamic shape,cause greater displacement than would be caused in chairs without suchcovers.

The instant invention seeks to solve'this problem and is.

distinguishable from the prior art, in providing a spheroidal chaircover which gives minimal surface area and better aerodynamicconfigurations in most planes therethrough to, thusly' reduce theresultant wind force displacement to a minimum. My invention is furtherdistinguished from the prior art by providing a two piece spheroidalcover with slightly larger forward portion pivotally mounted on a medialhorizontal axis carried by a slightly smaller rearward portion so thatthe forward portion opens by moving rearwardly about the rearwardportion to present a cross-sectional area no greater upon opening thanwhen in closed position, whereas other pivotably opening coversheretofore known have had a cover motion away from a medial point toincrease cross-sectional area upon opening. My invention is furtherdistinguished from the prior art in cover bias toward an open positionand a 'closed position from a medial position therebetween; in

SUMMARY OF INVENTION My invention provides a compound spheroidal cover,for chairlike passenger supports of aerial trams, having an outwardlyhemispherical rearward element structurally communicating about thepassenger support and pivotably mounting on a medial horizontally axis aslightly larger hemispherical, shell-like forward element pivotablymovable over the rearward element to open, all to create a cover withminimal wind deflection.

To accomplish this i provide a curvilinear frame communicating in itsend parts with a U-shape upperyoke suspended from a traction cable inthe normal fashion. The lower frame communicates with and supports aseatlike passenger carrier and the hemispherical back cover extendingabout the passenger carrier. The back coveris of spheroidal shape havinga diameter of revolution substantially cover is to the distance betweenthe opposed end parts of thesupport frame. The forward cover is asimilar partial spheroidal shell of internal configuration very slightlylarger than the external configuration of the rearward cover so that itmightpivotably move thereover. This forward cover is pivotably mountedupon the back cover along a horizontal axis extending through thejoinder of supporting yoke and frame.

The pivotable mounting of the forward cover is such as to bias it to aclosed position asitmoves toward this position and to an open positionas it moves from a medial point toward the open position. A shockabsorber is associated with the pivot structure to lessen impact uponopening and closing of the cover andan adjustably positionable supportdevice is associated with the lower edge to maintain it at a spaceddistance above the protruding'legs of a user. A rim is provided aboutthe lowermost edge of the front cover to prevent water drippingdownwardly over that coverfrom reaching the protruding legs of a user.

In providing such a cover it is:

A principalobject of my invention to create a spheroidal compound chaircover'thatpresents a surface to minimize the effect of winds tending tomove the carrier from its normal vertical position whileat the same timeproving a maximum enclosedarea for usereomfort.

A further object to provide such a cover thatv has a larger forward partpivotably movable about a medial horizontal mounting over a smaller.rearward part to present an area when open no greater than when closed.

A further object to provide such a cover that during use may bemaintained in a partially opened condition to allow a user's legs toprotrude therefrom and carry skis in the habitually familiar fashion.

A still further object of thy invention to provide such a cover that maybe readily adapted for use with existing passenger carrying chairswithout major modification of either chair or cover.

A still further object of my invention to provide such a cover that isof new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple andeconomic manufacture and one otherwise well adapted to the usesandpurposes for which it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the followingspecification and accompanying drawings which form a part of thisapplication. In carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it islobe understood that its essential features are susceptible of change indesign and structural arrangement with only one preferred and practicalembodiment being illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, as required.lV. BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which forma part of this application, and wherein like numbers of reference referto similar parts throughout:

FIG. I is an isometric VIBWgf apart of a traction cable supporting apassenger carrier with the cover in my invention in open conditionthereabout.

FIG. 2 is an orthographic side view of a carrier yoke supporting theframework of my invention.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic front view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 2, showing its details from this aspect.

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the support thatmaintains the front cover at a spaced distance above a users protrudinglegs.

FIG. 5 is an orthographic front view of my invention in position foruse, with the pivot structure covers removed.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 5, taken on theline 6-6 thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged orthographic side view of the right pivotablemounting structure, showing particularly the shock absorber associatedtherewith.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged orthographic side view of the left pivotablemounting structure, showing particularly the offcenter biasing mechanismassociated therewith.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the pivot structure ofFIG. 7, taken on the line 9-9 thereon in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the pivot structureof FIG. 7, taken on the line 10-10 thereon in the direction indicated bythe arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings inmore detail and particularly to that of FIG. 1, it will there be seenthat my invention generally comprises frame 11, supported by suspensionyoke 12, and in turn immovably supporting rear cover 13 and seat 14, andcarrying pivot structure 15 which supports forward cover 16 in pivotablerelation to the frame and elements carried by it.

Suspension yoke 12 is of the type commonly used for supporting aerialtram carriers, providing U-shaped downwardly projecting support element17 communicating by offset suspension arm 18 with connector 19 carriedby traction cable 20. The only thing in this structure essential to myinvention is that the distance between the ends of yoke 17 be slightlygreater than the maximum diameter of the cover elements and the yokeconfiguration be such as to allow cover positioning therebetween andsupport thereon.

Frame 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises rigid tubular element 21formed to a half circular shape of such size and configuration as to fitimmediately inwardly adjacent the lower portion of the rearward cover.This frame element, if of metal, is structurally fastened, preferably bywelding 22, to the inwardly facing surfaces of paired opposed pivot bodystructures 23. These structures in turn are carried by the lowermostends of yoke 17 by means of releasable fasteners 24 extendingtherebetween as seen particularly in FIG. 9. The frame is formedpreferably of some light, strong material such as tubular aluminum.

Rear cover 13 comprises the hemispheroidal shell-like member seenparticularly in FIG. 6. A spherical shape provides the ideal aerodynamicqualities and substantially the maximum of user space, but thisparticular figure is not necessary to my invention. Any spheroidal shapehaving substantially circular cross sections through the axis of coverpivot to allow the specified cover motion is operative with myinvention, and the shape could even conceivably degenerate to acylinder-though its aerodynamic characteristics are not the best. Theterm spheroidal as used herein is intended to include any convex shapesof revolution, even including a cylinder. The particular choice of shapemust interrelate such factors as aerodynamic stability, user space,cost, manufacturing procedures,'aesthetics, and the like.

This member must have rigidity not only to support its own dead weightbut also to support the normal passenger loads that might be impressedupon the structure either directly or by support of a seat. I prefer toform this element of a plastic material such as a fiberglass orreinforced polyvinyl chloride.

The back member fits immediately outwardly adjacent frame element 21 andis fastened thereto preferably by adhesion. In each of its side partsthe back carries forwardly projecting, structurally communicatingannular flanges 26 mechanically fastened, in this embodiment by rivets27, to the inner surface of pivot body structure 23. The interiorchamber of back 25 supports, or at least partially encloses, the seatstructure including top 28, back 29 and set 30 having forward edge 31formed by folding seat structural element 32 backward to the lowermostedge of back 25. The seat structure may be formed as an independentelement, especially when my cover is used with existing carriers but ina seat particularly adapted for use with my cover, I prefer to form itin the form illustrated. If a seat of normal construction is used,preferably it is supported in a similar position within back shell 25,by this shell and the framework.

Forward pivotable cover 16 is a similar hemispheroidal shell 33, of thesame configuration and inside radius slightly greater than the outsideradius of the back shell, to allow the forward shell to pivot thereaboutin opening. The forward shell has medially positioned transparent window34 maintained in appropriate viewing position in a corresponding hole inthe forward part of the shell by peripheral flexible 35. The forwardlower part of the cover is provided with auxiliary blunt edge 36 toprovide more comfort to a user, should the cover rest upon hisprotruding legs. Drip mold 37 carried at a spaced distance upwardly fromlower forward edge 36 provides a channel to catch water running downwardalong the forward cover. This mold has exit orifices for contained waterpositioned in its lower medial part to allow the discharge between twopassengers seated in the carrier and not on either.

Spacer bar 38 maintains the forward cover in an appropriately openposition to allow protrusion of occupants legs from under the partiallyopen cover, as seen particularly in FIG. 4. The spacer bar includes anappropriate length of flexible plastic tube 39 carrying rigid internalsupport 40 through most of its length but collapsed at one end to formattachment car 41. Screw 42 passes through this attachment ear and intothreaded engagement with dog 43 on the lower medial inner surface of theforward cover to position the fastening bar thereon. Since plastic tube39 has some elasticity or plasticity, as the case may be, the structurewill be normally biased to the position shown in FIG. 4 but manuallymovable to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to support the forwardcover somewhat above the forwardmost edge of seat 30 at a distancesufficient to allow protrusion of users legs in this space. Normally theenclosed carrier would be configurated for two users, each having legsprotruding over the seat on one side of spacer bar 38.

Pivot structure 15, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, provides pivotbody 23 formed with radially smaller laterally extending journal element44 and radially larger medially extending fastening elements 45. Thesestructures communicate, in paired opposed fashion, at each end of theframe structure between the frame structure ends and supporting yokeends, as before specified.

The pivotable journaling of the front cover is illustrated in FIG. 9.Annular fastening disks 46 are structurally carried in paired opposedfashion at the lateral midpoints of the forward shell by mechanicalfastenings, in the illustrated embodiment rivets 47, communicatingtherethrough. Each disk has central hole 48 pivotably journaled uponoutward journal element 44 of pivot body 23 to pivotably mount forwardcover upon this pivot structure.

On the right side (looking forward) right yoke end 49 irrotatablycommunicates as aforesaid with the end part of outward journal element44 of the pivot body by plural screws 24 extending through the yoke endand into threaded engagement with the pivot body structure. Pin 51 isthreadedly carried by the upward part of this yoke end and into threadedengagement with the pivot body structure. Pin 51 is threadedly carriedby the upward part of this yoke end to support one end of cylindrical,double acting shock absorber 52 of ordinary commercial design. The otherend of the shock structure is supported by pin 53, carried by andprojecting laterally out- The shock absorbing structure is eccentric tothe axis of pivotable motion of the forward coverand passes on bothsides of the axis on pivotable motion of the cover to lessen impact ofthe cover on extreme upward ,or downward motion.

On the left side of the pivot structure, left yoke end 54 is irrotatablycarried by the outwardly extending journal element 44 of pivotbodystructure 23 again by means of plural screws 24 extending throughthe yoke end and into threaded engagement with the pivot body structure.Spring fastening pin 56 is carried in the upper medial part of this yokeend to support one end of extension spring 57. The other end of thisspring is carried by fastening pin 58 positioned slightly downwardly andforwardly from the other pin by means of offset spring arm 59 carriedlaterally outward of yoke end 54 on annular fastening disk 46 by meansof bolts 60 threadedly communicating therebetween. The spring-arm, byits offcenter position illustrated, will bias the forward cover from apartially open position to a completely open one.

It is further to be noted that by reason of the pivotable mounting ofthe forward cover, with the plane through the major diameter anglingforward and downward when closed, it will be overbalanced forwardly,with its center of mass forward of the pivot, and thusly biased bygravity to a closed position as it approached this position.

Similar opposed pivot structure cover members 61 are provided to covereach of the pivot structures and prevent damage thereto or injurytherefrom. These covers are the appropriately configured shell-likeelements illustrated, fastened in place by plural bolts 63 extendinginto fastening ears 62 on the yoke ends.

Having thusly described the structure of my invention, its operation maynow be understood.

Firstly a cover is formed according to the foregoing specification andpositioned for operation about the normal tram carrier or one speciallydesigned for use with my invention. To use the device the cover isopened by manual manipulation as it approaches a loading station. Sometype of mechanical opener could be provided, but his is not part of theinstant invention. in the opening operation it is to be noted that onlyslight force will be required to cause the opening because of biasing byspring 57.

In open condition the carrier is allowed to approach the loading stationand passengers seat themselves therein in the habitually familiarfashion, normally during carrier motion. With a chair such as thatillustrated, two passengers will be carried, one on either side of thechair. With passengers in position, a passenger or operator, manuallymoves the forward cover downwardly, generally by means of manipulationof depending spacer bar 38.

At this time the users will be seated on seat 30 with their legsextended forwardly over and downwardly from seat edge 31. The forwardcover may be moved downwardly until the lowermost portion of spacer bar38 comes to rest on the upper forward surface of seat 30 to maintain theforward cover in this position at a spaced distance above the usersprotruding legs. The forward cover can, of course, be used withoutspacer bars 38 and allowed to rest directly upon the upper portion ofthe users protruding legs, but operation may cause some motion of theforward pivotable cover to cause discomfort to a user during transit.

The operation is reversed generally by the user to open the cover toallow exit of therefrom in the habitually familiar fashion.

From the foregoing description it is to be particularly noted that mycover in open position present no more cross-sectional area in any planethan when in closed position and when in closed position the coverpresents a small cross-sectional area, and in the case of sphere aminimal cross section, in any direction as compared to other geometricalshapes.

It is further to be noted that the spherical shape of the cover presentsan aerodynamic surface resulting in minimum force on the ,carrier uponapplication of multidirectional wind forces thereto and the other shapespresent only a small force.

The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailednature so that a specific embodiment of it may be set forth as required,but is to be understood that various modifications of detail,rearrangement and multiplication of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from its spirit, essence or scope.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect byLetters Patent, and what I claim is:

1. For aerial tram carriers a spheroidal cover providing a passengersupporting seat structure and adapted for use with a suspension yokehaving a lower U-shaped carrier supporting portion, comprising incombination:

two pivot structures, each having laterally inner fastening disks andlaterally outer journal elements structurally carried by each lower endof the suspension yoke;

a frame depending from and communicating between the fastening disks ofthe opposed pivot structures:

a hemispheroidal back cover structurally communicating for support atleast with the frame, with an axis of revolution substantially throughthe pivot structures, rearwardly enclosing a seat structure to supportpassengers; and

a shell-like, hemispheroidal forward cover with inside radius slightlygreater than the outside radius of the back over and with annularfastening disks along a diameter substantially coincident with an axisof revolution, the fastening disks being journaled respectively upon theouter journal elements of the opposed pivot structures to mount theforward cover for pivotable opening motion over the rearward cover.

2. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

mechanical biasing means associated with at least one pivot structure tobias the forward cover from a medial position to an open position.

3. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

shock absorbing means associated with at least one pivot structure toaid in lessening the inertia of motion of the forward cover inapproaching extreme positions.

4. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

a movable mounted spacer bar manually manipulatable to a positionsupporting the forward cover open a spaced distance from the lower edgeof the rear cover.

5. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

the hemispheroidal covers mounted with the planes of their greatestareas angling forwardly and downwardly relative the tram carrier to biasthe forward cover to a closed position, with aid of gravity, as itapproaches this position.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the hemispheroidal shapes comprisehemispheres.

7. In a compound, relatively movable aerial tram carrier cover,supported by a U-shaped depending yoke, the combination comprising:

a hemispheroidal rear cover carried by the depending yoke along asubstantially horizontal axis of revolution;

passenger carrying means associated with the rear cover and carriedsubstantially within the enclosed volume thereof;

paired opposed pivot structures carried by the end parts of thedepending yoke; and

a forward hemispheroidal cover having internal radius slightly largerthan the external radius of the rear cover, journaled along an axis ofrevolution on the opposed pivot structures for pivotable opening motionover the rear cover.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the hemispheroidal shapes arehemispherical.

1. For aerial tram carriers a spheroidal cover providing a passengersupporting seat structure and adapted for use with a suspension yokehaving a lower U-shaped carrier supporting portion, comprising incombination: two pivot structures, each having laterally inner fasteningdisks and laterally outer journal elements structurally carried by eachlower end of the suspension yoke; a frame depending from andcommunicating between the fastening disks of the opposed pivotstructures: a hemispheroidal back cover structurally communicating forsupport at least with the frame, with an axis of revolutionsubstantially through the pivot structures, rearwardly enclosing a seatstructure to support passengers; and a shell-like, hemispheroidalforward cover with inside radius slightly greater than the outsideradius of the back over and with annular fastening disks along adiameter substantially coincident with an axis of revolution, thefastening disks being journaled respectively upon the outer journalelements of the opposed pivot structures to mount the forward cover forpivotable opening motion over the rearward cover.
 2. The invention ofclaim 1 further characterized by: mechanical biasing means associatedwith at least one pivot structure to bias the forward cover from amedial position to an open position.
 3. The invention of claim 1 furthercharacterized by: shock absorbing means associated with at least onepivot structure to aid in lessening the inertia of motion of the forwardcover in approaching extreme positions.
 4. The invention of claim 1further characterized by: a movable mounted spacer bar manuallymanipulatable to a position supporting the forward cover open a spaceddistance from the lower edge of the rear cover.
 5. The inventIon ofclaim 1 further characterized by: the hemispheroidal covers mounted withthe planes of their greatest areas angling forwardly and downwardlyrelative the tram carrier to bias the forward cover to a closedposition, with aid of gravity, as it approaches this position.
 6. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein the hemispheroidal shapes comprisehemispheres.
 7. In a compound, relatively movable aerial tram carriercover, supported by a U-shaped depending yoke, the combinationcomprising: a hemispheroidal rear cover carried by the depending yokealong a substantially horizontal axis of revolution; passenger carryingmeans associated with the rear cover and carried substantially withinthe enclosed volume thereof; paired opposed pivot structures carried bythe end parts of the depending yoke; and a forward hemispheroidal coverhaving internal radius slightly larger than the external radius of therear cover, journaled along an axis of revolution on the opposed pivotstructures for pivotable opening motion over the rear cover.
 8. Theinvention of claim 7 wherein the hemispheroidal shapes arehemispherical.